Refugees and Mentors

"Free short courses and workshops offering pre-employment information and guidance for people recently arrived in the UK, often learning English. We encourage and support learners to take small steps to improve their employment prospects. To support people to do this, we offer follow up appointments and work closely with other services.."

"We support: Refugees, people seeking asylum and vulnerable migrants by offering pre-employment information, guidance and by working with others to create opportunities. Employers to develop inclusive recruitment practices, diversify their workforce, to fill skill gaps and offer support to refugees. The mentoring service supports around 25 refugees a year to improve their employment prospects. Offers information, guidance and support to: Explore short and long term career routes and goals. Gain recognition of overseas qualifications via UK NARIC or other professional bodies. Practise English. Gain unpaid work, including volunteering or shadowing, experience. Find jobs. Improve the quality of job applications. Practise interview skills. Improve computer skills. Access other services and networks. Who provides the service? Mentoring is provided by a project manager and volunteer mentor. Mentors have at least 15 years UK work history, with experience in different sectors and a variety of roles. All volunteers have undergone Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. How is mentoring provided? For up to 5 months. 5 hours commitment each month. Can be face-to-face, by email or video calls, in the day or early evening. A regular newsletter with information about local and online opportunities, including training, courses or jobs. Optional workshops and social events."

"The Work Club offers employment-related information, guidance and support for refugees, vulnerable migrants and people seeking asylum who live in the area of Manchester Local Authority This service is delivered in partnership with: Together we offer: Information and guidance, including; volunteering, finding and applying for jobs, career routes, education and training, recognition of overseas qualifications, learning English and developing individual learning and career plans. Digital skills appointments in English and Arabic.

"A specialist service offering support for refugee engineer, architect, IT, telecoms and business service professionals who are restarting their careers in the UK. We offer information, advice and guidance: Paid Returner Placements – we’ll do our best to broker a 3-12 month paid placement in your profession. You’ll be paid at least the National Living Wage. Build your profile – we help you create a detailed skills portfolio, a UK standard CV and to network. Match your skills to roles – we can’t make promises of jobs but we will guide you in how to spot the right roles. Guidance and support to join professional bodies. Support to find a long term position after a placement. Signposting to other organisations. Additional support from our Mentoring Project or for Manchester residents, the Rainbow Haven Work Club"